Early Childhood CARES E-News
In This Issue
November Events
Sensory Storytime
Inclusive Childcare Program
One Families Story
Annual Holiday Gift Giving
Open Enrollment Begins
Resources and Information
About Us
Join Our List

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November Events
 

Inclusion
means these three things: 
ACCESS
PARTICIPATION
SUPPORT
With Our Thanks!
Thank you to Pegasus Pizza for so generously donating pizza for our November parent trainings and events.
 
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Are you interested in sharing your families story in the "One Family's Story" section of the Early Childhood CARES newsletter?
If so, please contact
 Sara Koyano at ecparent@uoregon.edu or call 541-600-5778
 
 
November 2014
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University of Oregon College of Education
Sensory Storytime Now at Springfield and Eugene Public Libraries
Starting this month, Sensory Storytime is now available at both the Eugene Public Library and Springfield Public Library.  Debby Laimon, an Early Childhood School Psychologist and former employee of Early Childhood CARES started Sensory Storytime at the Eugene Public Library several years ago as a way to create a welcome and nurturing environment for children and caregivers to enjoy story time in a new way.  Sensory Storytime is specifically designed to  be interactive and to incorporate sensory integration, movement, and play while also providing a predictable routine.  Kids and caregivers enjoy fun books, songs, games, poems and various types of play.  Fidgits, bubbles, and bubble wrap also provide for fun sensory exploration.  Eleanor the cow puppet, Debby's delightful assistant is a favorite of the children, as is the surprise box which holds fun and interactive treasures.  Sensory Storytime also provides a welcoming and safe place for families to connect and make friends.  Debby has seen firsthand the benefits Sensory Storytime has on the children that attend.  "Kids are able to interact with books for longer periods of time and they learn turn taking and sharing,"  she says.  Debby has created a social story that parents can take home to share with their child prior to coming to story time if they would like.  She also keeps in touch with parents via email about upcoming story time activities.  Debby is passionate about all children being included in the community and encourages parents to bring their children for a fun Sensory Storytime experience!  Feel free to email Debby with any questions you may have. 

Sensory Storytime:
Eugene Public Library:  Wednesdays at 1:00
Springfield Public Library:  2nd and 4th Thursdays at 10:30

 

Inclusive Childcare Program
The inclusive Childcare Program is a program of the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities that works directly with parents, child care providers and other community members to promote inclusive child care in our State. The program helps eligible families when there are higher costs related to a child's disabilities, emotional or behavioral needs, or special health care needs and offers training and consultation.  For more information contact the Inclusive Child Care Program toll free at 1-866-837-0250 or visit their website.
One Family's Story

A Success Story

This is a story about a child and her mother. This mother had this idea of what parenting would be like when she was pregnant. She had REALLY big ideas. She had the idea that her child would take the typical path doing the typical things kids do. There came a day though, when this mother's child was two that she realized that path was not the path her beautiful child was taking. That mother is I, and this is our little story of a few seemingly small successes that have had a tremendous impact on my view of parenthood.

 

Success... We all want it for our children. What makes a "success" when parenting children with different needs? My child is the most wonderful person who's ever happened to me. She changed my way of thinking. She changed how I thought about the world. She has changed who I am. She has made me a success.


Abby is six years old. She was diagnosed with Autism when she was two and a half. The grief was astounding and it fractured my fantasy of what parenthood would look like. I remember thinking "It will all be okay once she starts talking." She didn't call me "mommy" until she was four and a half. I remember crying. Success.

 

When Abby attended preschool, I remember when she first started making independent transitions without behaviors. I recall how hard all the teachers worked with her pairing every transition with visual icons and 1-2 word phrases. I remember how many times she threw herself on floor screaming at the top of her lungs. One day she grabbed the icon and made the transition independently. I remember the gratifying amount of relief that I felt when I observed it. I thought to myself "We will get through this." Success.

 

Abby is now in the first grade. I drop her off every morning for school. She is greeted by many of the kids in the hallway, all the office staff, and the children in her classroom every school day. The other day we were playing in the garden. After gazing down at some chard seedlings we planted a few weeks back, Abby turned and looked at me and said "Mommy, garden growing." It wasn't echolalia. It wasn't rehearsed. It wasn't prompted. It wasn't out of a routine social situation, like "hello," "bye-bye," or "I love you." It was a pure, observant comment that was SPONTANEOUS. I was stunned. I scooped her up and praised her. I cried with a big smile on my face (and still cry when I think of it). Success.

 

We have fantasies about our children accomplishing huge goals in their lifetime. It is nice to have those fantasies. I believe the best successes are the small ones. It is the every day routine business that we mull through as if they are a series of obstacles and check lists. Within those layers of mundane business, there are opportunities for great success. They may seem small to others, but to parents that parent children with significant special needs, they are immense moments of pure joy and happiness.

 

 


Annual Holiday Gift Giving Campaign Underway
Early Childhood CARES sponsors a Holiday Gift Giving Campaign for the families that it serves.  If you would like to purchase a gift for a child, tags will be available at the Early Childhood CARES main office, 299 E 18th Ave. Eugene, beginning Wednesday, November 19th.  You can also email Jan Weyers or call 541-346-3492 to request a tag.  All gifts need to be returned unwrapped with the gift request tag attached to the Early Childhood CARES main office by Monday, December 8th.  
Open Enrollment Coming November 15th
If you didn't get to enroll in health insurance before the April 30th deadline this year or you are ready for a different insurance provider, you will soon be able to apply through healthcare.gov.  Starting Nov. 15th, you can apply for health coverage that will begin Jan. 1st, 2015.  Depending on your income, you may be eligible for tax credits or even free insurance through the Oregon Health Plan.  If you have had a major life change this year, such as marriage, death, birth of a child, change in employment, or change in citizenship, you may be able to get health coverage even sooner.  Go to healthcare.gov for more information.

Do you have a child who needs health coverage?  You can apply right now for your child to get coverage through oregonhealthykids.gov, and there are no time restrictions on enrollment.  Eligibility is based on age, income, and Oregon residency.

Resources and Information
LANEKIDS
Visit LaneKids, Lane County's "Parenting Education Hub," for great information on community activities, community resources and parenting support.  Check out LaneKids monthly activity calendar for November activities in our area.

THE ARC LANE/FAMILIES CONNECTED
JumpStart Saturday Respite - Nov. 1& Dec. 6, 10 am - 4 pm., at 4181 E St, Springfield.  JumpStart respite is provided to families the first Saturday of the month.  Families must use K-Plan support funds to pay for JumpStart Saturday. Email Becca Hope or call 541-654-7649 to reserve a spot.

Out N About at Bounce - Tuesdays 5 - 6 pm., 329 W 3rd Ave, Eugene. Families Connected hosts Out N About at Bounce every Tuesday for children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their siblings.  Parents must remain on site, but are free to sit back and connect with one another while the volunteers play with your kiddos.The cost is $3 per person.

 

Family Fun Day - Nov. 15, 4 - 6 pm., at the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics.  Family Fun Day is hosted by Families Connected and the cost is $5 per person.  Limited scholarships are available.  Email  Laura Dahill  or call 541-343-5256 to preregister. 

Families Connected Dinner Night - Nov. 20, 6 - 8 pm. Free dinner and childcare are provided, but families must RSVP by emailing Laura Dahill  or calling 541-343-5256.  The topic for this month's meeting is how parents can teach children with and intellectual/developmental disability about puberty and sexuality.

ONLINE TRAININGS
FACTOregon offers several online training opportunities for parents.  Check out their Great Start! Parent Empowerment Training Series:  An interactive four part training kit intended for families with children receiving early intervention/early childhood special education.

FREE SCREENING FOR SIBLINGS
Parents of children receiving services from Early Childhood CARES may request a free developmental screening for younger siblings.  Simply call 541-346-2578.  Spanish speaking families can call 541-346-0742.

About Us
Early Childhood CARES provides early intervention  and early childhood special education to infants, toddlers and preschool age children in Lane County. Services are individually designed to address the needs of the young child with developmental delays or disabilities.  All services are free of charge to eligible children.

Early Childhood CARES 
541-346-2578 
800-925-8694 
299 E 18th Ave Eugene OR 97401